Whidbey Island Marathon

Event Schedule & Information

Event                                                        Time                                                 Location
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Late Registration                            12:00pm-6:00pm               Windjammer Park Interpretive Center
Packet Pickup                                12:00pm-6:00pm               Windjammer Park Interpretive Center

Sunday, April 21, 2024
Full Marathon Run                               7:00am                         Start Line - Bowman Bay Boat Launch*
Half Marathon Run/Walk                     8:30am                         Windjammer Park
10K Run/Walk                                     9:00am                         Windjammer Park
5K Run/Walk                                       9:00am                         Windjammer Park
1K Kids Run                                       10:00am                        Windjammer Park
Finish Line Celebration                      10:00am                        Windjammer Park

*Full Marathon is a point-to-point race starting at Bowman Bay Boat Launch and finishing at Windjammer Park.

THIS IS NOT A CLOSED COURSE, PLEASE BE AWARE. The courses will be coned, flagged, and marked for your protection. We will have course monitors, certified flaggers, and police stationed throughout the course, but please be aware of all traffic. We will have motorcycles as well as HAM Radio Operators monitoring the course and basic first aid needs available at all water stations. Water stations will be located approximately every 2 miles along the course. There will also be electrolyte replacement drinks at every other water station as well as energy gels on the full marathon throughout the course. All participants will be chip-timed.

FULL MARATHON DESCRIPTION – The Whidbey Island Marathon will start at Bowman Bay Boat Launch, north of the Deception Pass Bridge. Marathoners will wind their way south from Bowman Bay and Pass Lake, across the Deception Pass Bridge. The Whidbey Island Marathon will once again be the only race that closes the bridge for runners! Once clear of the bridge, runners will wind through tranquil farmland meandering towards Oak Harbor. In 2023, marathoners will run a loop through the Silver Lake area before passing by the US Navy Seaplane Base and entering the City of Oak Harbor. From here, the race features a downhill run towards the finish line. Runners will cruise along the waterfront as they enter Windjammer Park, running along the promenade before reaching the finish line!

Reminder – All marathon participants need to be clear of Highway 20 by 7:45 AM. From the start of the marathon, through Deception Pass and off Hwy 20 is 2.5 miles. All participants will need to cover this distance in the 45 minutes allotted by the race and WSDOT. Any participants not clear will be picked up and advanced off Hwy 20.

Pacers will be provided for the full marathon in the following time increments: 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00

MARATHON COURSE MAP (PDF)

HALF MARATHON DESCRIPTION – The half marathon will start and finish along the water at Windjammer Park. After leaving the park, participants will wind their way through Oak Harbor’s historic downtown area and along the waterfront before running west through the Marsh Trail to Scenic Heights. At this point, runners will complete an out/back through Scenic Heights and Penn Cove (this section is very similar to years past). After exiting Scenic Heights, heading towards the finish line, runners will complete their half marathon experience along the Windjammer Park Promenade before finishing in the newly remodeled park to cheering spectators and live music!

Pacers will be provided for the half marathon in the following time increments: 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30

HALF MARATHON COURSE MAP (PDF)

10K & 5K RUN/WALK DESCRIPTION – The 10K and 5K routes will once again follow the half marathon course, starting and finishing at the newly remodeled Windjammer Park. Once exiting, they too will wind through Oak Harbor’s historic downtown area and along the waterfront. They will also run west through the Marsh Trail to the Scenic Heights neighborhood. Shortly after, the 5K course will turn around, heading towards the finish line as the 10K continues along the half marathon path. After the 10K turnaround, both races will join together again, heading towards the finish line back through the Marsh Trail and on the Windjammer Park Promenade before finishing at the newly remodeled Windjammer Park on the Oak Harbor Waterfront!

10K & 5K RUN/WALK COURSE (PDF)

WATER / AID STATIONS
Water Stations will be located approximately every two miles along the full and half marathon courses. Electrolyte replacement drinks will be at every other station and energy gels at various stations. There will be basic medical supplies at each station including, but not limited to bandages, antiseptic creams, Vaseline for chaffing, and heat blankets. Portable restrooms will be located at each water station.

RACE / COURSE TIME LIMITS
The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit and the half marathon has a 4:30 time limit. If you are unable to make certain checkpoints by the time needed to meet the six-hour limit, we will pick you up and move you forward to the next checkpoint then average your current pace time accordingly to add to your overall finish time. Please allow us to do this as we have to meet road closure opening times dictated by the city, county, and state jurisdictions.

All full marathon participants are encouraged to use our free shuttle service to the start of the marathon. There is NO parking at Bowman Bay during the race, nor will there be return service to the start line.

Shuttle Option 1) All participants will have the option to park near the finish line at Windjammer Park. From there, participants will be able to catch marathon start shuttles at the parking area within Windjammer Park off Beeksma Ave (West side of Windjammer Park, Parking Lot).

Shuttle Option 2) If you are an out-of-town guest staying in Oak Harbor at The Auld Holland Inn, The Coachman Inn, Best Western Plus, or Candlewood Suites, our shuttles will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the marathon start line as well as return you to your hotel after your race is completed.

Shuttle Pickup Times:
Marathon Departure Time/Location (Please plan on 25 minutes to arrive at the marathon start line)

From Area Hotels (Coachman Inn, Best Western & Candlewood Suites, Auld Holland Inn) 5:40 am or 6:20 am
From Windjammer Park Parking Lot (Finish Line): 5:45 am, 5:55 am, 6:00 am, 6:05 am, 6:10 am, 6:15 am, 6:20 am

*Shuttles will pickup/drop off at the west parking lot of Windjammer Park at SW Beeksma Dr. / SW Bayshore Dr. for all races near the basketball courts.

Half Marathon – Shuttles will run continuous loops from the same hotels starting at 7:10 am with the last shuttle at 8:00 am for the half marathon start line

Return Shuttles – Shuttles will run from the event finish line to area hotels continuously throughout the day until 1:00 pm

Parking: 
There will be ample street parking available at the west side of Windjammer Park off Beeksma Avenue and street parking near Windjammer Park. Paved parking will be available in the Haggen Grocery Store parking lot. Please park in designated areas only and be mindful of parking/no parking signs.

*If you are an out-of-town guest staying at one of the area hotels (Coachman Inn, Best Western Plus, Candlewood Suites, or Auld Holland Inn), you will have the option to take a shuttle from your hotel to the start/finish line. After your race, shuttles will return you to your hotel.

See above for shuttle departure times from various locations.

• Commemorative Participant Top (differs per race)
• Finisher medals for all events
• FREE Downloadable Participants Photos for all
• FREE downloadable Finisher Certificate
• Customized Bib

*Pictures of all swag will be released closer to the event date. 10K/5K participants will receive a short sleeve running top, half marathon participants will receive a long sleeve running top and full marathon participants will receive a long sleeve hoodie or quarter zip type premium running top.

1. Is there a time limit for the Full Marathon or Half Marathon?

The full mull marathon has a 6-hour course time limit and the half marathon has a 4:30 time limit. If you are unable to make certain checkpoints by the time needed to meet the six-hour limit, we will pick you up and move you forward to the next checkpoint, and average your current pace time accordingly to add to your overall finish time. Please allow us to do this as we have to meet road closure opening times.

2. What timing device will be used?

A disposable chip will be used for official times. Gun start time will be used for prize money. There will be split timing mats throughout the courses.

3. What is the minimum age to participate in the Marathon? Half Marathon?

All athletes in the Full Marathon must be 16 years old or older. If you are younger than 16 and would like to participate in the Full Marathon, please have a parent or guardian contact us with this request. 

There is no age limit for the Half Marathon.

4. Will bikes, skates and dogs be allowed?

No, in accordance with USATF rules, these items will not be allowed on any course.

5. Is there a Pace Team?

Yes! We are pleased to announce the Super Pacers based in Tacoma, WA will be pacing both the full marathon and half marathon in 2023

Marathon – 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00

Half Marathon – 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30

*Pace times could change and could be reduced based on pacer availability.

6. Where will the bathrooms be located?

Portable toilets will be located at each start line, at every water/aid station approximately 2 miles apart along the course and at the finish line.7. How do I know if I am registered?

7. How do I know if I am registered?

You will receive a confirmation email after you registered. If you didn’t receive that confirmation email or are unsure if you are registered, please shoot us an email to info@fizzeventsnw.com.

8. I can’t participate, what are my options?

Unfortunately, we do not offer a refund after registering to participate in the Whidbey Island Marathon or surrounding events. We will allow participants to change race categories prior to the race, transfer their race entry to a friend* or defer their entry to the following year. If you would like to take advantage of any of these options, please email us at info@fizzeventsnw.com

*If transferring to a friend, please email us with your friend CC’d and will help facilitate the transfer.

9. If I’m registered for the Full Marathon can I switch to the Half, 10k or 5k?

Yes – We are happy to switch you from one event to another. You will be charged the difference if you are going up in distance but there will be no refunds for downgrading from a longer distance to a shorter distance. If you’d like to switch distances, please pick up your bib at the expo and bring it to the help desk where we will make the change.

10. Can I pick up my packet on Race Day?

Yes, all packets will be available up until 15 minutes before the start of your race at your respective start line, AND all shirts will be available at the finish line after your race

11. What is the average temperature on Whidbey Island?

It is usually slightly overcast to sunny on race day with temperatures ranging on average from 51 degrees up to 66 degrees. It is Washington and it is the spring time. It could be colder and it could be windy and/or rainy – Please check the forecast before starting your run and dress accordingly.

12. Lost and Found

Please contact the City of Oak Harbor Special Events Coordinator at specialevents@oakharbor.org or call (360) 279-4504. 

13. Do you provide a Clothing/Gear Check? 

The clothing check area will be located near the start line of each event. Marathon participant-checked items will be transported from the start line to the finish line. We will not provide bags so please bring your own as long as your bib number is placed on the outside of the bag. Under no circumstances should you place valuables in your bag. Finishers may claim their bag near the finish line. Whidbey Island Marathon officials and volunteers are not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen checked items.